st.matthias, stoke newington, london

west front of the church built by william butterfield in 1849-53, and his sole commissioners' church [they were responsible for only £250 of the £4,900 initial estimate; it cost about £7,000 in the end]. it was gutted in the war, losing the chancel vaults and the fittings. it is a harsh uncompromising church, with little carving, odd tracery and buttresses that are extensions of walls; full of the interplay of stark geometric planes .